Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin is under investigation by federal prosecutors as part of an ongoing corruption probe. No charges are imminent, however, according to one person familiar with the situation. Nagin’s lawyer didn’t return calls seeking comment. (Wall Street Journal)

A former New York Fire Department employee who supervised inspections at day-care centers was sentenced to more than two years in prison for taking $61,000 in bribes to look the other way. More here. (NY Times, NY Daily News)

A bottle of “liquid razor blades” is no longer the Chinese bribe of choice. (Quartz)

The FCPA Blog notes Mexico’s new president began his fight against corruption, explains how the Net 1 probe shows the FCPA’s reach, and reports that Indonesia sentenced its first foreign graft convict.

Tom Fox looks at the ICE case and asks whether a party to bribery can be a victim under the Crime Victim Rights Act. The FCPAProfessor holds a Q/A with an FCPA lawyer in the Midwest. The FCPAmericas blog focuses on common corruption risks in Colombia. Thebriberyact.com argues that the FSA threw down the gauntlet with its latest thematic review.

A client alert from Morrison & Foerster explains how to thread the needle between anti-corruption and privacy laws. A client alert from Proskauer shows where human resources and FCPA compliance intersect. (JDSupra, JDSupra)

Money Laundering:

The European Union executive moved to step up efforts against tax havens, encouraging members to name and shame ultra-low-tax jurisdictions and crack down on cross-border tax avoidance within the EU. (Wall Street Journal)

Several people familiar with the matter told Reuters that HSBC Holdings PLC could pay a $1.8 billion fine as part of a settlement with U.S. law-enforcement agencies over money-laundering lapses. HSBC declined to comment on the report. More here.

Korean authorities are investigating the role a trading company may have played in an allegedly illegal money transfer from a local Korean bank account belonging to the “Iranian Central Bank.” (Arirang News)

A blog post explains how gift cards can be used to launder money. (Infosec Island)

The Cyprus attorney general hit back at reports in the British press that Cypriot authorities refused to investigate claims of Russian money laundering through its banks. (Cyprus Mail)

Greek oligarchs, such as those on the “Lagarde List,” are holding back the country’s recovery. (NY Times)

Sanctions:

Iranian oil tankers are sending incorrect satellite signals that confuse global tracking systems and appear to conceal voyages made by other ships to Syria, as Tehran continues to help Damascus evade sanctions. (Reuters)

Iraq blocked Syria’s request to fetch combat helicopters from Russia. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to meet with her Russian counterpart and a United Nations mediator to discuss the Syrian conflict. More here and here. (ProPublica, NY Times, AP, The Hill)

A group affiliated with the MEK, which was recently de-listed by the U.S. as a foreign terror organization, wants to be recognized by France and the EU just as they recognize the Syrian opposition. More here. (Reuters, Reuters)

The U.N. Security Council placed sanctions on al-Qaeda linked militants in Mali. (AFP)

The U.S. Treasury Department is preparing to sanction one of the militias fighting against Bashar al-Assad, called Jabhat al-Nusra, as a foreign terrorist organization. More here. (Wall Street Journal, The Hill)

General Anti-Corruption:

Reaction is pouring in on the 2012 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Two-thirds of the world is “ravaged” by corruption. Money in U.S. politics drove its ranking. A look at Nigeria’s 35th-worst showing is here. However, the U.S., Nigeria and Russia all improved. The Arab Spring isn’t enough to stop corruption and it’s seen as worse. Countries in the throes of the euro-zone debt crisis are seen as the most corrupt in the region. But Greece can do something about it. More here, here and here. (OCCRP, Sunlight Foundation, Sahara Reporters, Main Justice, VOA, NPR, Wall Street Journal, Guardian, Al Jazeera, Leadership, LA Times)

China’s anti-corruption commission has opened an investigation into the deputy party secretary of Sichuan Province, state media reported. He hasn’t been seen, and didn’t appear to be contacted for comment. (NY Times)

John McAfee suffered a possible heart attack at the detention center in Guatemala City where he is being held pending a possible deportation back to Belize. (ABC News)

The SEC’s probe of Chinese affiliates of five multinational accounting firms puts the listing of Chinese firms on U.S. markets in doubt. (Wall Street Journal)

The brother of a former Washington D.C. council chairman was charged with bank fraud. A tool to keep track of Washington, D.C.’s local corruption scandals is here. (Washington City Paper, Washington Post)

Kenya’s politicians got a reprieve when the anti-corruption agency said they could run for office even if there are court cases against them. (Africa Review)

Several investigations into “ill-gotten” gains among ruling families are underway in West Africa. (VOA)

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About Corruption Currents

Corruption Currents, The Wall Street Journal’s corruption blog, digs into the ever-present and ever-changing world of corporate corruption. It is a source of news, analysis and commentary for those who earn a living by finding corruption or by avoiding it. Corruption Currents is written by Christopher. M. Matthews and Sam Rubenfeld and edited by Nick Elliott.

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